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Navratri means “nine nights,” a major Hindu festival celebrated enthusiastically across India. It marks the onset of autumn and focuses on worshipping the nine forms of Goddess Durga. Each day of Navratri highlights a different form of the Goddess, symbolizing various aspects of her divine feminine power.

The festival is not only a spiritual journey but also a time of cultural vibrancy, full of traditional dances like Garbha and Dandiya, rhythmic music, colorful attire, and community gatherings. It is a festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil, with devotees fasting and offering prayers to seek blessings from the Goddess.

The Significance of Fasting During Navratri

Fasting is a central aspect of Navratri, representing the purification of the mind and body. During this time, devotees abstain from consuming certain foods, maintaining a sattvic (pure) diet to honor the Goddess. Fasting enhances spiritual growth, bringing individuals closer to the divine.

Fasting also helps in detoxifying the body, especially since the festival coincides with the seasonal transition between summer and winter. Many people fast for the entire nine days, while others choose specific days, such as the first two and last two days.

There are different ways to observe the Navratri fast, depending on regional customs, personal beliefs, and health considerations. Some people opt for a complete fast, consuming only water or fruits, while others follow a more lenient diet, avoiding grains, legumes, onion, garlic, and non-vegetarian food.

Foods to Eat During Navratri

Although fasting during Navratri involves abstaining from certain foods, it also opens up a delightful array of special dishes prepared with fasting-friendly ingredients. The diet emphasizes easily digestible, light, and sattvic foods, considered the most suitable for spiritual practice. Some of the commonly consumed foods during Navratri include:

Sabudana Khichdi

Sabudana (tapioca pearls) is a staple ingredient during Navratri fasting. It is a light and nutritious dish made with soaked tapioca, peanuts, and mild spices. It is filling, easy to digest, and provides the energy needed to sustain long hours of fasting.

Sabudana Vada

Another popular dish made from tapioca, Sabudana Vada is a crispy, deep-fried snack that’s perfect for breaking the fast. Made with mashed potatoes, crushed peanuts, and tapioca pearls, is loved for its crunchy texture and nutty flavor.

Kuttu Ki Puri

Kuttu puri, a deep-fried bread made from buckwheat flour, is a common gluten-free substitute for regular puri during Navratri. People often pair it with a simple potato or tomato curry, creating a delicious and wholesome meal for fasting days.

Stir Fry Arbi

Devotees commonly eat arbi, another root vegetable, during Navratri. They often stir-fry it with mild spices to create a flavorful, crispy dish that complements other fasting foods.

Aloo Tamatar ki Sabji

This simple yet flavorful dish made from potatoes and tomatoes is a Navratri favorite. Cumin and black pepper provide flavor for this curry, since people typically avoid onions and garlic during fasting.

Shahi Kheer (Makhana Pudding)

Nutritionists consider makhana (fox nuts) a superfood, and many people consume it during fasting periods. Shahi Kheer is a rich, creamy dessert made with makhana, milk, sugar, and garnished with dry fruits. It is an ideal sweet dish to break the fast with, offering nourishment and energy.

Fasting Guidelines and Tips

Fasting during Navratri is not just about abstaining from food; it is a holistic process involving spiritual discipline. Here are a few guidelines to help you observe the Navratri fast in a healthy and balanced manner:

1. Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water, coconut water, or buttermilk throughout the day. Hydration is essential for maintaining energy levels, especially when fasting for prolonged periods.
2. Eat Small, Frequent Meals: Instead of eating heavy meals, opt for small, nutritious meals spread throughout the day. This helps maintain your energy levels and prevents overeating.
3. Include Protein and Fiber: Ingredients like sabudana, makhana, and nuts provide protein and keep you fuller for longer. Fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and root vegetables are also essential for maintaining digestive health during fasting.
4. Avoid Fried and Oily Foods: While deep-fried snacks like Sabudana Vada and Kuttu Ki Puri are traditional, try to limit their consumption. Opt for steamed or lightly sautéed dishes to keep your diet light and healthy.
5. Use Rock Salt (Sendha Namak): Ordinary table salt is avoided during Navratri fasting, so rock salt or sendha namak is used instead. It is considered pure and suitable for fasting diets.
6. Listen to Your Body: Fasting should not compromise your health. If you feel weak or unwell, consider modifying your fast or consulting a healthcare professional. Spiritual discipline is essential, but it should not come at the cost of your well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Navratri Fasting and Feasting

1. Can I drink tea or coffee during the fast?

Yes, tea and coffee are generally allowed during Navratri fasting. However, it’s important to drink them in moderation to avoid dehydration or acidity.

2. What grains can I eat during Navratri fasting?

During Navratri, people avoid regular grains like wheat, rice, and corn. Instead, they use alternatives like buckwheat (kuttu), amaranth (rajgira), and water chestnut flour (singhare ka atta) to prepare dishes.

3. Can I eat fruits during the fast?

Yes, fruits are an essential part of the Navratri fast. Fresh, seasonal fruits like bananas, apples, and pomegranates are commonly consumed, and they provide hydration and essential nutrients.

4. Is it necessary to fast all nine days of Navratri?

Fasting all nine days is a personal choice. Many people fast on the first and last day of Navratri, while others choose to fast for the entire duration. The level of fasting is entirely up to the individual’s health, beliefs, and customs.

5. Can diabetics fast during Navratri?

Diabetics or individuals with medical conditions should consult a doctor before fasting. If you choose to fast, you can modify it by consuming small, frequent meals that help maintain blood sugar levels, such as fruits, nuts, and low-glycemic foods like buckwheat and amaranth.

6. What is the significance of breaking the fast?

Breaking the fast on the ninth day, or Ashtami, is symbolic of achieving spiritual completion. It is often done with a puja and a special meal. People break their fast with light, sattvic food to gently reintroduce nourishment to the body.

Conclusion

Navratri is not just a festival; it is a journey of spiritual cleansing, devotion, and celebration. Through fasting, devotees seek inner peace, mental clarity, and the blessings of Goddess Durga. The culinary offerings during this time reflect the spirit of simplicity and purity, with a range of wholesome, nourishing foods to sustain the body and soul. Whether it’s through the joyful Garbha dance or the simple act of offering food to the Goddess, Navratri is a time to connect with tradition, culture, and divinity.

As you all know, Indian cuisine will always be my favorite cuisine. It will always have a special place in my heart. However, we are living in different times. Our lifestyle has changed with the emerging culture. The same thing is happening with food. I like that the norms are changing. My family, especially my grandkids, are not happy just with traditional Indian food; they need variety, just like me. I experiment with the different food from different cultures, staying true to my guidelines. Thus, the challenge comes. I have never tried some of these dishes. Finding vegetarian dishes in any given cuisine is not that big of a problem; the problem is finding recipes without onion and garlic. I go on google and YouTube, searching for recipes and creating a dish that makes sense to me. First, I try different sauces. I think that makes it easy to create the dishes for that cuisine. My family gets to try my creations and give me their honest opinions.  They are all brutally honest with their opinions.  Some are hits and some not so much! Believe me, it is not easy to take these hard rejections because I have spent many hours on making these recipes.  Italian is easy; they like marinara sauce, white sauce, pesto, all of which can be used in so many different dishes. I am also very fond of Mexican cuisine! Using salsa and enchilada sauce, many dishes can be made: enchiladas, burritos, taco salad, and many more.   

I also have my version of Asian peanut sauce which tastes great in Asian bowls, salads, and wraps. This is a favorite of my oldest granddaughter! I use these sauces in my recipes while making different dishes. Alex has been asking me to do the videos just for the different sauces just like I do for Indian chutneys. It will be easy to refer to when you are doing the next recipe and don’t have to repeat the sauce again. Keeping that in mind, I just did the recipe for pesto sauce. The next curry sauce I am trying is Thai Red curry sauce.

Most of the Indian dishes you prepare will involve some type of gravy. Learning how to make a gravy is useful because you can pair the gravy with many different vegetables and come up with unique dishes that are easy to prepare. You can then pair the gravy with vegetables you have in fridge or freezer and – voila – dinner is prepared!

For a great basic gravy, check out my Mattar Paneer recipe. Here are some suggestions using this recipe. You can make small changes to this recipe for a variety of dishes. For example, instead of mattar paneer this can be just mattar, or just paneer, or aloo mattar, or just aloo, or paneer. Also you can use a frozen vegetable mix like (peas, corn, carrots, beans) or add mushrooms. The possibilities are endless! Try adding a few spoons of cream in the gravy to make a richer dish for a party.  You can add about a tablespoon of dry fenugreek leaves (kasoori methi). This provides a very unique flavor.

You can freeze your gravy in small portions. It will stay good for up to two months. Having gravy readily available will make your cooking a lot easier and less stressful. Enjoy!

I wanted to share some quick and easy snacks I used to prepare for my two sons, Rakesh and Mukesh, and their friends.

When the boys were young, I made sure to have tasty and healthy snacks readily available. They would often bring their friends, who loved coming to our house after school.  Our house was the place to be fed well with homecooked fresh food!  I would keep their snacks quick and easy to prepare. They also love helping me prepare snacks.

Some of their favorite snacks included celery sticks and sliced cucumbers and cream cheese, carrots and peanut butter, potatoes with cheese, crisp toast with cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on top, and graham crackers with cream cheese topped with fresh fruit.

The boys loved when I added Indian touches to their snacks.  One of their favorites was fresh hot puris.  All their friends loved watching me fry puris and were amazed to see how they would puff up.

They also enjoyed crispy aloo pakoras. They would devour these!  I could not keep up with how fast they ate them!

Here are some ideas you can find on my website for quick, easy and delicious snacks.  Now that we are spending a lot more time at home, try engaging with your kids and let them prepare their own snacks, such as: 

These are the few my grandkids really enjoy!

I typically don’t do restaurant reviews but with this new Indian restaurant, Masala Street, here in San Diego, I simply had to! I recently had a great evening out with my family – both sons and their families, along with my daughter-in-law’s mother, who is visiting from Jaipur, India. We decided to try out the latest hot spot, Masala Street in the beach front La Jolla area.

The whole experience was wonderful – the ambiance, food, top-notch service and especially the exquisite food presentation. The chef had really gone out of his way to please everyone. My family has many food restrictions – vegetarian, vegan dairy free, some don’t eat peppers, and my husband and I don’t eat onions and garlic. Others in my family love hot and spicy food. With all these restrictions, I was not expecting the food to meet our expectations. I was happily surprised that the restaurant was more than willing to accommodate all of our requests! Yes, I am talking about Chef Saransh and his wife Megha Oberoi!

Chef Saransh explained that his unique menu is based on simple Indian street food with a California twist. These are few dishes we all really enjoyed:

Starters

• Quinoa Chaat, was really unique and delicious
• Tacosa (which is a crunchy combinations of a Samosa and Taco)
• Kursi Chaat, (Papdi chaat served over mango roll ups – the presentation is to die for!)

Entrées

• Spinach with chole (This was a delicious vegan dish prepared especially for us!)
• Khatte Aloo Baingan, and Dal Tadka

Desserts

• Mango Kufi
• Tira Gulla.
• I loved both of these desserts.

The menu options are endless! This is the restaurant I highly recommend. If you are in San Diego check it out:

Masala Street
915 Pearl St.
La Jolla, CA 92037

We all live busy lives and have so many things to get done. Time is precious and your mealtime should not make you stressed. Here are some quick and easy suggestions for delicious Indian vegetarian recipes in under 30 minutes that can be used for any meal.

Masala Khichdi

Masala Khichdi is a spicy variation of simple khichdi. This the ultimate comfort food which is also healthy. Khichdi is basically prepared with rice and lentils. Adding a few vegetables with spicy tomato seasoning makes khichdi a complete meal. Usually khichdi is served with yogurt, pickle and papdam.

Chickpea Pulav

Chickpea Pulav is a delicious combination of rice, chickpeas, and vegetables and then seasoned with spices. This is a great, hearty, and healthy meal. This is a one dish and one pot meal.

Quinoa vegetable pilaf

Quinoa vegetable pilaf is a protein rich, gluten free and delicious dish. It is quick and easy to make.

Vegetable Pulav

Vegetable pulav is a mix of vegetables and spices. If you are not in the mood to prepare a big meal, use vegetable pulav as a one-dish meal with yogurt, pickle, papadam or chutney.

Grilled Potato Sandwiches

Grilled Potato Sandwiches gives a different dimension to the classic grilled cheese sandwich. They are delicious and add an Indian taste to the standard grilled cheese. Potato& cheese sandwiches are excellent choice for a hearty and satisfying lunch.

Oat Dosa

Oat dosa is an easy recipe that is perfect for busy families. This gluten-free dish is made with oats, rice flour, yogurt, and a few spices. I add cabbage and carrots for texture. This is definitely a staple in my house.

Bread Uttapam

Bread Uttapam is a popular South Indian dish. Traditionally uttapam is made with rice and lentil batter, which can be a long process. Bread Uttapam, on the other hand, is instant and easy to make. Not to mention it tastes delicious. It tastes divine served hot and with a side of coconut chutney.

Aloo Puri

Aloo Puri, is spicy potatoes with gravy and puffed whole wheat bread (puri). It is simple and makes a complete meal. This is a popular combination in North India. This can be served for a casual breakfast, lunch or dinner.

It is officially summertime!  It’s gorgeous outside with bright blue sunny skies.  This year of course, is a little different.  I am really missing my weekly trips to the Farmer’s Market.  I miss people-watching with the bustling crowds, sampling tasty treats, and all the colorful fruits, vegetables, and flowers!

During the summer, a lot of us feel like eating simple, light and refreshing food. Salads are perfect and make for great lunches! Why not try a bowl of salad to satisfy those fresh and healthy cravings? Salads are super simple to assemble. You can use whatever you have on hand paired with your favorite dressing. I prefer a salad with a light homemade dressing. Try some of my favorite salads listed here and let me know what you think: 

 

I am very excited about the weather becoming warmer and Spring’s arrival.  With this also comes Holi, one of my favorite festivals! Holi is the festival of colors and will be celebrated on March 28th. I am beginning my preparations as we speak! The house will soon be full of sweet aromas to indicate Holi is coming. Of course, this also allows me to spend more time in my favorite place at my home – the kitchen!

I love the spirit of the holidays! The holidays bring back a lot of fun memories from my childhood. As a young child, I can vividly remember the whole neighborhood filled with excitement as the delicious aromas of Holi wafted throughout the neighborhood. Of course, we loved to “play” Holi, throwing brightly colored powders at each other to celebrate! I can remember my mother also being very excited about Holi.  She loved to prepare a variety of finger foods because it was easy to share with friends and neighbors.

I am planning to make sweet and savory snacks that can last until it is Holi. This year, celebrating Holi will be different because we still need to socially distance ourselves, even though most of our friends are fully vaccinated.  Despite this, I am still excited to spend time with friends and family!

Here are a few of the dishes I plan on preparing to celebrate Holi:  Gujia, Besan Ka Ladoo, Meethi matries, Crispy Shakarpara (Almond Biscuit), Besan Sev, Apple Coconut Barfi.  For a cold refreshing beverage, I plan on making Thandai (a special drink traditionally made for Holi).

Spring is almost here, and we have a lot to be thankful for!  Enjoy!

Diwali is just around the corner. I feel like this year has gone by very fast.   This time of year, is my favorite and I have already begun my preparations!  Sadly, this year will be different because we cannot attend our usual round Diwali parties thrown by friends and family.  This year we will also miss out on our annual Diwali traditions – our local Diwali mela and the “Festival of Lights” celebration.  I have been actively involved in these events for so many years and missing out on these events is so strange.  But all is not lost.  We can still celebrate Diwali by wishing friends and family a happy Diwali and visiting them outdoors in small socially distanced settings.

I like to gift people with homemade goodies during the Diwali season.  Homemade gifts are truly special in that they show you really put some thought and care into it. Some ideas for simple homemade gifts are Achari Mathries, Crispy Shakarpara, Nariyal Ka Ladoo, Atta Ka Ladoo, Almond brittle, and Spicy cashews.  You can place these delicious snacks in decorative boxes and add in some colorful diyas for the perfect homemade Diwali gift.  This small token can really convey our good wishes for the Diwali season. Here’s to wishing everyone love and light this Diwali season!

Karva Chauth is a traditional Hindu festival in some parts of India. Married women fast all day, wishing for their husband’s health and long life. In some cases, and for those who wish to make this holiday more modern, both husbands and wives may fast together. This is pretty new and I’ve seen this only occasionally! My elder daughter-in-law is very traditional and really enjoys this special festival. She takes pleasure in all the rituals associated with Karva Chauth. This year’s menu is simple but delicious. I plan on making Gatte ki sabji (which is a Rajasthani dish and my daughter-in-law’s favorite!), Aloo Methi, Puris, Rice, and of course Gulgula. It will be a satisfying meal for all of the fasting married women! 

Hello all! I hope everyone is doing well and getting used to our new normal.  I know this year our holiday celebrations don’t feel the same.  We are used to celebrating with large numbers of people and celebrating the festival season. I know it may not be ideal, but we can still make the most of the season by getting together in our backyards with small groups.  

Some of our friends have planned to enjoy garba with three or four families.  That way they can still enjoy dressing up in nice clothes.  Of course, they plan on wearing masks and practicing social distancing. I don’t know about you, but I feel like masks have become a fashion statement and they are just a part of our daily life and just another accessory!

I would love to hear about how you all are celebrating the holiday season.  Here are some of my suggestions for dishes to prepare for a Navratri feast:

Makhana Matar Curry

Sabudana (Tapioca) Bhel

Paneer Malai Ladoo

Nariyal Ka Ladoo

Dal Puri

Aloo Chaat